NHL: Top Five Players To Watch After The Olympic Break

College basketball odds will get a lot of attention now that it’s March, and the NCAA Tournament is right around the corner. But the Stanley Cup playoffs are also on the horizon, and after the excitement of the Winter Olympics, it should be one of the best postseasons in recent memory. Here’s a look at five players who will be key to their team’s NHL betting chances.

Ryan Miller, Buffalo

The MVP of the Olympics, Miller stole the first meeting with Canada, and you couldn’t really fault him for the loss in the gold-medal game. Miller came into the Olympics are arguably the best goalie in the league for the season he is having in Buffalo, coming in second in save percentage, and third in GAA.

Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh

We’re betting management from Team Canada is already sewing the “C” on Crosby’s uniform for 2014 already. Crosby didn’t have a great tournament, but he scored the overtime winner in the gold-medal game, adding to last year’s Stanley Cup….all at the age of 22 years old. Crosby is third in the NHL in scoring and tied with Washington’s Alex Ovchekin with 42 goals ahead of Tuesday’s return to the NHL, and if the Penguins are looking to repeat, he’ll be at the forefront.

Roberto Luongo, Vancouver

Luongo had a reputation of faltering in big games, and he was rocked in the playoffs by Chicago last year. But after Martin Brodeur struggled in the first couple of games, Luongo was put in front of his hometown fans, and he responded by going 5-0 with a 1.76 GAA. This can only boost his confidence as the Canucks chase Chicago and San Jose in the Western Conference.

Joe Thornton, San Jose

Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Dany Heatley figured to lead Canada to the gold medal after steering the Sharks to the top spot in the West. Heatley and Marleau combined for 12 points, but Thornton had just two points and again, he looked like he avoided the spotlight as the games got bigger. This has always been the knock on Thornton, one of the most talented players in the league. If their center can’t raise his game, San Jose will fall in the playoffs….again.

Capitals goaltender, Washington

Semyon Varlamov was tipped to be the starting goalie in the nation’s capital, but then the Capitals switched to Jose Theodore, who has never been called a big-game player. Everyone knows the Capitals can score with Ovechkin and Alex Semin, but it’s the defense and goaltending that has to sort itself out before the end of the season. Even though they’re atop the Eastern Conference right now, Washington’s hockey odds depend on their netminder.